Three Rivers

Three Rivers' population increased by about 4,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 87,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Three Rivers increased by 5.4%, from about 82,800 to 87,300.

The addition of just under 4,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Three Rivers was home to, on average, 7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Three Rivers

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Three Rivers increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 1,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 16.0% of people in Three Rivers are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Three Rivers

The percentage of Three Rivers residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage of Three Rivers residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.9%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Three Rivers

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Three Rivers was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.5 points.

In 2011, 24.6% of respondents in Three Rivers gave this religion on the census compared with 16.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 64.5% said they were Christian, compared with 76.3% in 2001. About 0.6% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.7% to 7.6%.

In Three Rivers, 7.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.2% in 2001. In East, 7.3% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Three Rivers increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Three Rivers by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Three Rivers, but at a slower rate than in Watford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Three Rivers).

In Three Rivers, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.7% in 2001 to 10.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Watford increased from 9.7% to 20.1%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.6%.

The rate of social housing in Three Rivers fell from 15.8% to 15.2%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76.8% to 72.7%.

Private renting in Three Rivers increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Three Rivers

In 2011, 9.2% of Three Rivers residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 5.1% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.8% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 86.2% of people in Three Rivers said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 92.4% in 2001. About 2.3% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 1.0% to 1.8%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Three Rivers increased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Three Rivers

The percentage of adults in Three Rivers that were married decreased from 55.8% to 52.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.1%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 26.5% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Three Rivers that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.2% to 10.4%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 54.2% in 2001 to 49.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Three Rivers working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.3% to 12.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Three Rivers decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Three Rivers residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.5% to 3.9% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.6% in 2001. The percentage of Three Rivers residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.9% to 11.2%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Three Rivers decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Three Rivers with children increased from 30.9% to 32.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56.8%) households had no children, compared with 58.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Three Rivers with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10.5% to 10.9%.

The proportion of households with children increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 29.4% in 2001 to 29.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Three Rivers residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 55.4%, while the percentage of Three Rivers residents that were self-employed increased from 11.2% to 13.7%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Three Rivers increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Three Rivers, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.1% to 8.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.7%) households had only one person, compared with 26.8% in 2001. The percentage of households in Three Rivers which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41.2% to 39.0%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Three Rivers residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.7%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Three Rivers remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links